Facing a future demographic crisis and aging society, China’s leaders are desperately seeking to persuade couples to have more children. (Andy Wong/Associated Press)BEIJING — Facing a future demographic crisis and aging society, China’s leaders are desperately seeking to persuade couples to have more children. In 2016, the one-child policy was officially replaced with a two-child policy and Chinese couples were urged to go forth and multiply — within limits. China’s population is estimated to peak at 1.442 billion in 2029 and then gradually decline, potentially fulfilling the conventional wisdom that China will grow old before it grows rich. Bureaucratic inertia and the desire of local officials to chase revenue contribute to the problem, Yi said.

Source: Washington Post February 18, 2019 01:19 UTC